Apparatus and method for implementing an inverse arctangent function using piecewise linear theorem to simplify

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for implementing an inverse arctangent function using piecewise linear theorem to simplify and used to transform a right-angled coordinate point X and Y to a phase angle θ of an inverse arctangent function. The present invention uses T-line combination to approach an inverse arctangent function between 0 degree to 45 degree, and determines which piecewise linear region the right-angled coordinate point is located at. A coefficient table stored in a memory is used to compute {circumflex over (θ)} which is the approximate value of the phase angle θ. The phase angle {circumflex over (θ)} between 45 degree to 360 degree can be mapped to the approximate phase angle {circumflex over (θ)} between 0 degree to 45 degree using linear combination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for implementing an inverse arctangent function, particularly to an apparatus and method for implementing an inverse arctangent function using piecewise linear theorem to simplify.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are three conventional methods of transformming an inverse arctangent function. The first method is called CORDIC (Coordinate Rotation Digital Computer) coordinate transformation, which uses a multi-stage structure to obtain high accuracy, but the disadvantages of the structure are expensive in hardware costs and long output delay. The above technology is disclosed in “GEC Plessy, IC Handbook for Digital Video & Digital Signal Processing, Sec. PDSP16330, England, 1995.” The second method is to use a look-up table, which records every input point and its corresponding output point. The structure of the second method is very simple, but the disadvantage is that a lot of memories are needed. The third method is to use a floating point operation, which uses floating point operations on expansion equations and multi-iteration operations to obtain high accuracy. The disadvantage of the third method is that a lot of hardware costs are needed and it is difficult to complete an inverse arctangent operation using a single instruction. The third method is disclosed in Texas Instrument, “TMS320c40 User Guide, 1993.” As mentioned above, the expected performance of an inverse arctangent function, such as high speed, low error and low hardware cost can not be obtained through the prior art technologies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of generating more errors and more hardware costs in conventional implementation of an inverse arctangent function. To this end, the present invention provides a method and an apparatus of implementing an inverse arctangent function using the theorem of piecewise linear approach to simplify, which transforms two input right-angled coordinate points X and Y to {circumflex over (θ)} which is an approximate value of a phase angle θ of an inverse arctangent function. The present invention uses T-lines combination to approach an inverse arctangent function between 0 degree to 45 degree. Which line segment the input right-angled coordinate points is located in is determined, and the approximate value {circumflex over (θ)} is determined by a predefined coefficient table stored in a memory. The phase angles {circumflex over (θ)} between 45 degree to 360 degree can be obtained through the linear combination transformation of the phase angles θ between 0 degree to 45 degree.

The apparatus of the present invention mainly comprises: a processing unit which employs the equation $\hat{\theta} = {{\Omega (s)} + {{\Phi (s)} \cdot \left( {{c(k)} + {{d(k)} \cdot \frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}}} \right)}}$

to transfer a right-angled coordinate point X and Y to an approximate value {circumflex over (θ)} of a phase angle θ of an inverse arctangent function; and a memory unit connected to said processing unit for storing the value of c(k) and d(k). The method of the present invention mainly comprises: approaching an inverse arctangent function between 0 degree to 45 degree by using T-line combination, and establishing and storing in advance a table containing a plurality of parameters c(k) and d(k); determining which piece said right-angled coordinate point is located at, and capturing the corresponding value of c(k) and d(k) stored in said table; and generating {circumflex over (θ)} which is an approximate value of the phase angle θ based on the equation of $\hat{\theta} = {{\Omega (s)} + {{\Phi (s)} \cdot {\left( {{c(k)} + {{d(k)} \cdot \frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}}} \right).}}}$

The present invention can also be implemented by software, because of simplicity of the structure and less operations. The implementation by software also has the advantage as above-mentioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described according to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a corresponding diagram of using 2 line segments (T=2) to approach an inverse arctangent function between 0 degree to 45 degree according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a structure according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of phase angles vs. errors according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of bit number of a piecewise linear mechanism vs. bit number of a phase angle according to the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The phase angle θ of an inverse arctangent function of the point (x, y) at a right-angled coordinate has the following well-known transformation formula:

$\begin{matrix} {\theta = {\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{y}{x} \right)}} & (1) \end{matrix}$

The present invention uses the theorem of piecewise linear approach to replace above function. The XY plane at which a right-angled coordinate point (x, y) locates can be divided into eight parts, wherein s=0 represents a range from 0 degree to 45 degree, s=1 represents a range from 45 degree to 90 degree, and similarly, s=7 represents a range from 315 degree to 360 degree. Due to symmetric relationships, the ranges from s=1 to s=7 can be mapped to the range of s=0. An inverse arctangent function from 0 degree to 45 degree can be approximated by T-line combination. FIG. 1 shows a diagram of using 2 lines (T=2) to approach an inverse arctangent function between 0 degree to 45 degree according to the present invention, {circumflex over (θ)} which is the approximate value of θ can be represented by equation (2). $\begin{matrix} {\hat{\theta} = {{\Omega (s)} + {{\Phi (s)} \cdot \left( {{c(k)} + {{d(k)} \cdot \frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}}} \right)}}} & (2) \end{matrix}$

Equation (2) can be implemented by one multiplier and two adders or substracters; wherein x_(m)=MAX(|x|, |y|), y_(m)=MIN(|x|, |y|), k represents the number of a piecewise line at which the coordination point (x, y) is located, and T (T=2^(sb), sb is the abbreviation of “sec-bit,” its value ≧1) is the number of piecewise lines. Because 0≦y_(m)≦x_(m), it can be inferred that kε{0,1, . . . 2^(sb)−1}, and k will be obtained through equation (3). $\begin{matrix} {k = \left\lfloor {2^{sb} \cdot \frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}} \right\rfloor} & (3) \end{matrix}$

Ω(s), Φ(s) are transformation parameters that map {circumflex over (θ)} between 45 degree to 360 degree to {circumflex over (θ)} between 0 degree to 45 degree, and can be obtained from equation (4) and equation (5). $\begin{matrix} {{\Omega (s)} = {\frac{\pi}{2} \cdot \left\lfloor \frac{s + 1}{2} \right\rfloor}} & (4) \end{matrix}$

 Φ(s)=(−1)^(s)  (5)

c(k) and d(k) can be obtained by using interpolation method through end angle of a piecewise line and the value of $\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}},$

as shown in equation (6) and equation (7). $\begin{matrix} {{c(k)} = {{\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{k + 1}{T} \right)} - {\left( {k + 1} \right)\quad \left( {{\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{k + 1}{T} \right)} - {\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{k}{T} \right)}} \right)}}} & (6) \\ {{d(k)} = {T\left( {{\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{k + 1}{T} \right)} - {\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{k}{T} \right)}} \right)}} & (7) \end{matrix}$

Table 1 is an example of using k as an index for corresponding to c(k) and d(k) parameters, wherein c(k) and d(k) are represented by 16 bits (b₁₅˜b₀).

TABLE 1 k c(k) b₁₅˜b₀ d(k) b₁₅˜b₀ 0 0 0000000000000000 0.1589 0010100010110000 1 0.0001 0000000000000101 0.1577 0010100001100000 2 0.0004 0000000000011000 0.1553 0010011111000010 3 0.0010 0000000001000011 0.1518 0010011011011111 4 0.0021 0000000010001011 0.1474 0010010110111111 5 0.0037 0000000011110100 0.1423 0010010001101110 6 0.0059 0000000110000001 0.1366 0010001011110111 7 0.0085 0000001000110000 0.1305 0010000101100110 8 0.0117 0000001100000000 0.1241 0001111111000110 9 0.00154 0000001111101110 0.1177 0001111000011111 10  0.00194 0000010011110101 0.1112 0001110001111010 11  0.00237 0000011000010001 0.1049 0001101011011110 12  0.00283 0000011100111101 0.0988 0001100101001101 13  0.0330 0000100001110101 0.0930 0001011111001101 14  0.00379 0000100110110101 0.0874 0001011001011111 15  0.00429 0000101011111010 0.0821 0001010100000101

FIG. 2 shows a structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 1 of the present invention comprises a processing unit 30 and a memory unit 34. The apparatus transforms an input coordination point X and Y to a phase angle θ of an inverse arctangent function. The processing unit 30 employs equation (2) to operate, wherein {circumflex over (θ)} is the approximate value of θ. The memory unit 30 is connected to the processing unit 30 to store c(k) and d(k) which use k as an index. The processing unit 30 can be further divided into: an absolute value comparing mechanism 31, a piecewise linear mechanism 32, a multiplier/adder mechanism 33, and an eight-octant mapping mechanism 35. The absolute value comparing mechanism 31 is used to generate the bigger one of absolute values of input values X and Y, called x_(m), and generate the smaller one of absolute values of input values X and Y, called y_(m). The x_(m) and y_(m) are sent to a piecewise linear mechanism 32 to obtain $\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}.$

The piecewise linear mechanism 32 can be implemented by a plurality of comparators or a divider. k is the continuous sb highest bits of $\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}.$

For example, if $\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}$

is represented by 12 bits (b₁₁˜b₀), then sb=4 and the value of k is b₁₁˜b₈. The value of k is also used to represent the address of the memory unit 34. The memory unit 34 stores c(k) and d(k), and table 1 is a kind of storing way. The multiplier/adder mechanism 33 is connected to the piecewise linear mechanism 32 and the memory unit 34 in order to generate ${c(k)} + {{d(k)}*{\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}.}}$

The eight-octant mapping mechanism 35 is connected to the multiplier/adder mechanism 33 in order to generate the result of equation (2).

FIG. 3 shows an apparatus 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 2 of the present invention combines the above phase angle θ generation method of an inverse arctangent function with U.S. Ser. No. 09/049,605, which discloses the generation of a radius r of a polar coordinate. The present invention will create the radius r at the transition time (such as leading edge or trailing edge of a pulse) of a system clock (not shown in figures), and θ will be created in the next transition time of the system clock. {circumflex over (r)} which is the approximate value of r is obtained through equation (8).

{circumflex over (r)}=a(k)·x _(m) +b(k)·y _(m)  (8)

A delay mechanism 41 is added in FIG. 3, and is connected to the absolute comparing mechanism 31. Depending on timing issue and data synchronization, x_(m) and y_(m) firstly go through the delay mechanism 41, go through the first multiplexer 42 and the second multiplexer 43 respectively. Then “1” and $\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}$

go through these two multiplexers. The memory unit 34 stores c(k), d(k), a(k), and b(k), and is connected to the multiplier/adder mechanism 33 through the third multiplexer 44 and the fourth multiplexer 45. At the transition time of the system clock, the first multiplexer 42 captures x_(m)′, the second multiplexer 43 captures y_(m)′. The parameters x_(m)′ and y_(m)′ are the output of the delay mechanism 41. The third multiplexer 44 and the fourth multiplexer 45 capture a(k) and b(k) which are the outputs of the memory unit 34. The parameter {circumflex over (r)} is calculated by the multiplier/adder mechanism 33 based on equation (8) and then be output. At the next transition time of the system clock, the first multiplexer 42 captures logic one, the second multiplexer 43 captures the $\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}},$

which is the output of the piecewise linear mechanism 32. The third multiplexer 44 and the fourth multiplexer 45 capture c(k) and d(k) which are the output of the memory unit 34. After that, the multiplier/adder mechanism 33 computes ${{c(k)} + {{d(k)}*\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}}},$

and the eight-octant mapping mechanism 35 computes the approximate phase angle {circumflex over (θ)} depending on equation (2) and then output.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of phase angles vs. errors according to the present invention. When k=16, 16 piecewise lines are used to approach an inverse arctangent curve and a maximum error occurs at 30.7 degree. The maximum value of error is about 0.02 degree.

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of bit number of a piecewise linear mechanism vs. bit number of phase angle according to the present invention. When the number T of piecewise lines is 16 and a 12-bit piecewise linear mechanism is used, the approximate phase angle {circumflex over (θ)} of the present invention can reach 13-bit resolution. When the bit number of the piecewise linear mechanism is big enough, the resolution of the present invention will be increased by 2 bits by adding 1 to the parameter “sb”. When sb is fixed, if the bit number of the piecewise linear mechanism is increased by one, the resolution of the present invention is increased by one bit until saturation. FIG. 5 is convenient for user to choose the suitable hardware configuration.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrated only. Numerous alternative embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for implementing an inverse arctangent function using piecewise linear theorem to simplify, used to transform a right-angled coordinate point X and Y to a phase angle θ of an inverse arctangent function, comprising: a processing unit, used to transform a right-angled coordinate point X and Y to a phase angle θ of an inverse arctangent function; said processing unit employing the following equation to operate: $\hat{\theta} = {{\Omega (s)} + {{\Phi (s)} \cdot \left( {{c(k)} + {{d(k)} \cdot \frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}}} \right)}}$

wherein {circumflex over (θ)} represents the approximate value of the phase angle θ, y_(m) represents the smaller absolute value of the values X and Y, x_(m) represents the smaller absolute value of the values X and Y; c(k) and d(k) represent coefficient parameters of the equation, Ω(s), Φ(s) are transformation parameters that are used to map the phase angle θ between 45 degree to 360 degree to the approximate phase angle {circumflex over (θ)} between 0 degree to 45 degree; said processing unit including: an absolute value comparing mechanism, used to generate x_(m) and y_(m); a piecewise linear mechanism connected to said absolute value comparing mechanism for generating $\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}};$

a multiplier/adder mechanism connected to said absolute value comparing mechanism and a memory unit for generating ${{c(k)} + {{d(k)}*\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}}};$

an eight-octant mapping mechanism connected to said multiplier/adder mechanism for generating ${\theta = {{\Omega (s)} + {{\Phi (s)}\quad \left( {{c(k)} + {{d(k)} \cdot \frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}}} \right)}}};$

 and a memory unit connected to said processing unit for storing the values of c(k) and d(k).
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said piecewise linear mechanism is implemented by a plurality of comparators.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said piecewise linear mechanism is implemented by a divider.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processing unit is used for transforming the right-angled coordinate point X and Y to a radius r of a polar coordinate; said processing unit operates according to the following equation: {circumflex over (r)}=a(k)·x _(m) +b(k)·y _(m) wherein {circumflex over (r)} is an approximate value of the r, said processing unit generates {circumflex over (r)} at a transition time of a clock applied in said apparatus, and generates the approximate phase angle {circumflex over (θ)} in the next transition time of said clock; and said memory unit further stores the values of a(k) and b(k).
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said processing unit further comprises a first to fourth multiplexers, connected to said multiplier/adder mechanism; at a transition time of said clock, the first multiplexer captures x_(m), the second multiplexer captures y_(m), the third multiplexer captures a(k) and the fourth multiplexer captures b(k); at the next transition time of said clock, the first multiplexer captures 1, the second multiplexer captures $\frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}},$

the third multiplexer captures c(k) and the fourth multiplexer captures d(k).
 6. A method for implementing an inverse arctangent function using piecewise linear theorem to simplify, used to transfer a right-angled coordinate point X and Y to a phase angle θ of an inverse arctangent function, comprising the following steps: (a) using T-line combination to approach an inverse arctangent function between 0 degree to 45 degree, and in advance establishing and storing a table containing a plurality of coefficient parameters c(k) and d(k); (b) determining which piecewise linear region said right-angled coordinate point is located at, and capturing corresponding values of the parameters c(k) and d(k) stored in said table; and (c) generating {circumflex over (θ)} which is an approximate value of the phase angle θ based on the following equation ${\hat{\theta} = {{\Omega (s)} + {{\Phi (s)} \cdot \left( {{c(k)} + {{d(k)} \cdot \frac{y_{m}}{x_{m}}}} \right)}}},$

wherein Ω(s), Φ(s) are transformation parameters that are used to map {circumflex over (θ)} between 45 degree to 360 degree to {circumflex over (θ)} between 0 degree to 45 degree.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (a) further comprises the step of storing the table of coefficient parameters a(k) and b(k), said parameters a(k) and b(k) are used for generating a radius r of a polar coordinate, said radius r is generated by the following equation, and {circumflex over (r)} is an approximate value of the r: {circumflex over (r)}=a(k)·x _(m) +b(k)·y _(m).
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (c) further comprises the step of generating the radius r at a transition time of a clock and generating the phase angle θ at the next transition time of said clock. 